"ALIEN'S" LETTER FROM ENGLAND.

Otago Witness, Issue 2735, 15 August 1906, Page 66

"ALIEN'S" LETTER FROM ENGLAND.

(Specially written for tfc* Witness Ladies' Page.)

FROM GRAVE TO GAY AND SEVErn

T M»tered St Paul's as Chopin's Funeral The Duches3 of Westminster, who had not March was alternately rising to the dome's been present on the first day of the races, Alarcn was alternately J'^S „ weetn€SS was taring white silk muslin, covered with great vault in notes of an S$ IC .*£f^::'_ bouquets of roses, and a hat of rather a bright and falling down in sobs and signs, seem gha j e o{ blue which wag most «j£_ iag to make the very walls vibrate, as com i ng Tl, e D uc h ega of Devonshire appeared well as the hearts of the hearers, by tnear j n ,-. ne o f the now fashionable striped gauzes, deuth of sad sweetness. A large and re- the colours being pale gooseberry green and uresentative congregation was gathered to- white. Consuelo Duchess of Manchester a P - P f!w nnH*r thlT meat dome and in the reared ih white linen that was practical'y gether under the great aome «v covered with heavy embroideries, and a little shadowy aisles, to do honour «»«£ coat of the same material, with a black hit memory of Mr Seddon, Wew- b with ostrich f €at hers. The Duchess dead Premier, whose strong Imperialistic of Newcastle again came over from Forest sympathies brought him into prominence Farm, her grace wearing a simple toilet of in this country. It only seems yesterday blue and -white striped silk gauze, with * *w T taTkcA with him at- the great gather- round hat tnmmd with crimson cherries. The that I talked '^ t ", n^ p TmDerial Institute Duchess of Somerset, who was included in a mgof colonials at the mm& l £*:: n ™ coachload of friends brought by Lord Ludin the King's Coronation week (that was Jow from Windsor> chos^ a biicmt muslm to he). He and Mrs Seddon » n d -^ ana the of the skirt being adora€d Mrs • Joseph Chamberlain had dined to- bouquets of roses. Bound her neck was a, eether before the reception, and hosts ana ' ruffle of feathers from the breast of the peaffiipsts came on together. Outside, Lon- cock, and her toque was green and black. The §,!-»«, «t iv hr«rhtest the traffic surged Duchess of Marlborough, who is always a conaon was at its Obtest, toe ™* _ 8 spicuously well-dressed woman, chose a gown around St. Pauls m » eW -*f*?f f f*2:' of white silk muslin over the very palest blusli tinhroken, magnetic as from decade to ac pink with a hat of gmoke trimmed cade^ unchecked by the living or dying wsth a long ostriob f eat her of a deUcious shade of the race it represents. Inside, a large o f re seda green. Round her neck was one row and representative " congregation gave o f very fine pearls. The Marchioness of Lon♦l^anl™ fiTP a man who had worked for the donderry wore a costume of biscuit-coloured thankß for am™ d d 6ilk; covered with black , and a hat of good of his » CWO^V^J P amoke-coloured tulle; her daughter, the Coun- . for his rest. Many New Zealanders now of lichegterj being b^ l dmiied in in London were among tbose wno pam white gilk muslin with a back and white hat their tribute of respect to their late Hi- Th e Marchioness of Tweeddale was in white, mate. Mr Justice Williams and Miss Wij- with a very becoming toque trimmed with ■\iam2 Dr Valentine, Mr and Miss Perci- roses; and the Marquise d'Hautpoul was val Johnson, and many others. The King greatly admired in white spotted silk net, with *° wu*«M~ t j !,„ -i~*a »K«ffipld his » black toque. Princess Teano, who is one was represented by^.^ k*™nel 5£ of the guests staying with Mrs Adair, at Majesty's Lord-m-waiting, and Colonel tbe Adak pp 6 ace En fie^ d Green looked ,o, o ' vel Hon. Sir William Caringdon representea jn black and wbjte check mualin with Juat the Prince of Wales. The past Governors a touch of cherry-coloured silk at the sleeves of New Zealand, the Earl of Onslow and an d throat, the same colour playing a more Earl Eanfurly and the late commander conspicuous part in her large shady hat. Prinof the New Zealand forces, Colonel Fen- c«s Victor Dhuleep Singh was to be seen in ton and of the present Administration Sir }£c paddock with the Countess .of Coventry, toii, auu. vi ™ /'_' j , ■*, m -ir the latter wearing » blue and white satin fouJoseph and Lady Ward, and Mr andlta ]ard Countea s Cadogan, who came horn Pember Reeves. The Crown agents were Cumberland Lodg e , choose a very distingue those from West and South Australia, to ji e t o f white foulard checked with sapphire Victoria, Cape Colony, Tasmania, Natal. - blue, and a hat of harebell-coloured tulle Sir Westby Percival, one time Agent-gene- trimmed with roses. Her daughter, Lady Lurral of New Zealand, was among a long gan, wore a really beautiful dress of black list of others who m some offi^capa- l^^^^^ city either represented, or had represented &o^ a The c^ untes ' g of Nort hbrook, who the colonies. But there was another group wgg cnaperoning her daughter, Mis? -Aberof mourners not official — New Zealanders cro mbie, looked well in white embroidered who had personally known thf Premier, muslin, with a grey ostrich feather boa, and and whose sympathy with Mrs Seddon a grey and brown hat. Lady "Wolverton, who made the exquisite " tones of the funeral is always so beautifully dressed, on this occamar^ almostWwermg *£ SETS S-S5 wi?h SSfe osSch* And it vas with a strange significanoe of £ wMch shaded from yellow t » copper the union of the Empire, and the unity ot colour Tlle Co Un tess of Gosford was in bishearts, that we of the Southern Cross cuit co i our> w i t h a little toque composed of joined in worship under the dome of St. roses and other coloured flowers; her ladyPaul's for those in kin so far away. "Now ship's daughters, Lady Mary and Lady Theo the labourer's task is o'er," was sung as Acheeon, waring white embroidered linen portion of the burial service. The Bishop CounteSß o£ Craven app^ed in one with of Stephney read from the altar steps a Bt ripes of pale pink and white. portion of 1 Corinthians xv, after the Lady st - Oswald wore white muslin, the skirt beautiful rendering by the choir of the threaded with pale blue satm ribbon and the burial service and Psalm ie and xxiii. In bodice was also threaded in the same way. addition, the anthem was sung, "Happy , Lady Gerard chose a simple but very effective and blest are they who have endured." I k>"et of mushn consisting of narrow stripes intoned by Archdeacon Sinclair, and the cot | el i ow Very charming was the blue toilet service was concluded by the "Dead worn by Lady de Trafford, and Lady Susan March" from "Saul." Mr Joseph Cham- Yorke looked well in the inevitable white emberlaiin was represented by Mr Austin broidered muslin, with a blue ostrich feather Chamberlain and Mrs Chamberlain, Mr and a Tuscan straw hat trimmed with blue Winston Churchill, M.P., and the Earl of feathers. Lady Barrymore looked remarkably Elgin were among those 'from the Colonial J"^ w^ Office. biscuit-coloured silk muslm, with touches of A delightful royal Ascot has been this b j ue . b er toque. On one of the seats in year's verdict. The weather during June the royal enclosure might have been noted has steadily increased in sunshine and the Countess of Yarborough, m violet opaleswarmth, and during the Ascot week has cent taffetas and a toque of the same colourbeen glorious. The roads were in perfect ing, from which sprang a panache of bird of condi&n for motorists, every prefution g^JjJJ J£°- ,«?„*£. "*£ having been taken against dust, having and Mrs Anthony Drexel, wore white muslin, been continuously watered, and there was w itb. an Empire sash of the same material a long stream of the most beautiful motors • falling from the shoulders, while her toque in England on the road which is in itself was of chip straw wreathed with rosebuds and picturesque, leading partly through the decked on one side with speckled marabou "r wtr* 8 ZSXLSSSS tree^ J£ aboutXtldoc'k^he^sba^ gima Water. The magnificent trees of the for i ooked q mte charming in white surrounding parks are now in their full tafiet as embroidered with forget-me-nots, and foliage, and rhododendrons and lilac in h er straw hat was trimmed with blue velvet. rich bloom, so that the setting of the race- The Countess of Mar and Kellie was in white course and its approaches for miles around »ilk muslin, with » black toque; and a few form one of those pictures only seen in seats farther on waa Mrs Jefferson and two England in summer. For more than a ?.* *» e r daughters,. Lady Garvagh looked duquafter of a mile waiting motor cars were packed dose together, and the hundreds covered witn flowers. Mrs Arthur James and of ladies, they had brought down were her a i B ter-in-law, Mrs William James, were represented in motor hats with picturesque conspicuously well dressed women ; and Lady strings, many more use the dressing rooms Milbwnke, who was in the Jockey Club stand, and -change their costumes, and, again, was in white silk mushn, with a coloured hundreds come by carriage preferring this < ££ £ t Z£ c^V£ni£ni£ SO m Z™ £ mode of oonveyance as carrying themselves , with 't^^hes of reseda-green silk, and and toilets witn less risk of damage, lne , R p i ume o f bird-of-paradise feathers was in a : absence of the Queen affected somewhat | very pr etty toque. the attendance of ladies, but not to the j Viscountess Hehusley was in black silk muscasual observer. The scene was a brilliant I lin, with a rose-pink hat ; then there was one, with the cloudless blue sky over- Lady Alwyne Coropton in a flowered mualin ; heaA a™* th* oncinonrp an<? fceantiful Countess Hcchberg m blue and white satin head, and tne enclosure ami Deamiiui Magdalen Bulkeley, the Counlawns (in perfect condition) and stands tegg o{ ' Ay)e i or d, Mrs Ogden Mills, in black glowing with exquisite toilets which com- gnd white fl owered mUß lin ; Mrs George prise all the picturesque, the daring, the Cavendish Bentinck, somewhat similarly *todd in the history of fashion; and this tired; the Countess of March, in a charmyear fashion has reached a stage beyond ing muslin toilet; Lady Clementine Walsh, which it seems impossible to go. and will in grey and white satm foulard; the Counleave ite mark as a.revival of almost every A^ i £'ffiff^ .Sfte^nTthi period. And at Ascot, where the most ie ' M ™ r ° a K rd Dicconaon and her daugh, notaWe and beautiful of the- women of Ur the Counte s S of Carnarvon, ia white cmEnglish society are to be seen, together broidered linen; the Countess of Chesterwith distinguished visitors from all parts field in a bewitching toilet of green and blue; of the world, the scene is really beyond the Countess of Dudley, all in white; the description. Living pictures moved in all Countess of Huntingdon, in blue and white; i directions, and it was impossible to select the Countess of Kimberiey, "«»«*• **£»• one toilet as perfect without having the {b^C ounte^f^g^^V^ vision crossed by others as perfect, iue and wllo was j ac i ude( j j n his Majesty's King drove over with a small party from ivi vn cheon party; the Countees of Arran; VisWindsor, including the French .and Rns- ■ countess Dcwne, who was to be seen^ in the sian Ambassadors, the Duke of Richmond, paddock with Ear! Roberts and Viscount the Earl' of Rosebery. the Earl of Sefton, i Downe; the Countess , of Shaftesbury; VisLord Down, and others; but the pic- I count Chnrcml 1, in omnamon-colour^d eUk turesque State procession,^ which makes |--; J»™g£ p J£j wUto euch a feature of the King s arrival witu t a g e ta S) and a bluck hat , and aocomp»ni«d the trumpets and uniforms of the Guard, by one ' o f her daughters; Lady Lilian and the scarlet-coated outriders, was Wemyss; Lady Bateman, who was beautifully omitted on account of the Queen's mourn- dressed in muslin, with very becoming hat ing. The Prince and Princess of Wales trimmed with pale blue; the Son Mrs Bail^ were also absent in Norway at King gJ^^whS 0 with a^ue £jue;^X Haakon's Coronation, but a vast gathering g^G^ £ 'rale blue; and hit aWmade the day memorable. Here is a list te * -y^ j^ancy Green, in white, with pale of a few of the Chip Day dresses described bb j U6 feather* in her hat ; Lady Willoughby de by the Daily Telegraph, which were very . Eresby, in white, with, a rose hat ; Viscoxin■vwied aad Wautiful:^ • • 1 tess Ridley, in a little Directoire coat of

represeni

cherry-coloured silk, with black collar and cuffs, over a smoke-grey muslin; Lady Ludlow, in a white muslin, which had a painted design of pansies, and a big Leghorn hat trimmed with flowers and roses ; Louisa Lady Vivian and the Hon. Violet Vivian, who was in white ; Lady Idina Brassey, in pale blue ; Lady Savile; the Hon. Mrs George Keppel, in black and white spotted muslin, with vertical insertiana of white lace; the Hon. Mrs Petre, in a charming biscuit-coloured gown ; Mrs Chaine; and Lady Beatrice Pole Carew, whoes shot apple-green toilet, with a hat to match, and also emerald earrings, was very charming.

i n*ve given this long list ac a fair sample ot me best gowned women of the season, and you can picture the etiect of sucn groups at any outdoor assemblage. To tnose wno cannot attach the names of the wearers to tneir gowns the ettect is no less picturesque. And the Ascot Cup l>ay dresses are at the zenith of the season and are scarcely rivalled afterwards. Utntton and muslin exquisitely embroidered witn ilowers, hlies, cornllowers, roses, and forget-me-nots, over silk and satin and lace worktd witn flowers, and on some clusters of real flowers, rosebuds and carnations finishing the flower-emb?oidered gowns, trailing sprays over parasols, and nower hats turned the unrivalled assemblage into a garden of living blossoms. Every well-known person in the social world seemed to appear on the lawns and boxes or on the luncheon balcony, and none who saw it will quickly forget the blaze of colour, and the departures in fashion, especially amoug the millinery which has reached an enormous height, with its superstructures of flowers and feathers and tulle. In the royal enclosure the King conversed a number of friends, grande dames, and others who have represented society before Edward VII was King, and whose names still stand for social and political power. A very different scene was enacted by the women "Suffragettes," who brought the fight for their vote to a temporary crisis by the imprisonment of their leader, Miss Billington. They have made some very courageous, if unseemly, demonstrations since the Prime Minister made it so plain that he only meant to pat them on the head and speak soft words to keep them quiet. Mr Asquith being their real obstructionist, they have concentrated their chief attention to him of late, and there has been more than one scene of insubordination in front of his house in Cavendish square, where the Chancellor of the Exchequer resides. At an early 'hour a small crowd of the "Suffragettes" assembled in the square and were joined by Miss Billington and a number of her colleagues, but while they were conferring the police interfered and said that they could not permit another disturbance or the blocking of the traffic. The ladies refused to "move on" till Mr Asquith had given them an hearing, and waved their banner, "Votes for Women." But the police insisted and a tussle ensued, and at length the officers gently but firmly removed Miss Billington, who resisted. When the officers of the law attempted to seize the banner the women hit out at them right and left, and more than one stalwart, blue-coated upholder of the law got his face slapped. But the women stuck to their banner as valiantly as their brothers on a battlefield. The climax was that Miss Billington and Mias Kenney, and Miss Kenney's sister, and several others were marched off to the Marylebone Police Station, where Miss Billington was accused by a constable of having slapped him in the face in the discharge of his duty. Asked by the magistrate what she had to say, Miss Billington replied that the reason she refused to give any information or question any of the witnesses was because she refused to acknowledge the authority of the law to try women. That the law had been wholly made by men, and, according to the first principles of British justice, it was manifestly unfair to women, who had no voice in the making of the laws to be tried by them. Miss Billington eaid that therefore she would continue her protest until such time as women have the votes, and refuse to acknowledge the laws for this nation while they were made entirely by men. "You cannot judge me," she concluded; "you cannot judge me or any other woman." It was a dramatic little scene in the dingy courthouse, and a scene unique in the history of a British courthouse, the woman protesting to a London magistrate not her innocence of defiance, but against his right to administer to her sex a man-made law. And it evidently nonplussed his Majesty's magistrate for a moment, for he hesitated before replying. Then he pointed out the uselessness of any argument. "Yours is a protest, and only a protest," he answered his protestant ; that it was his duty to enforce the country's laws, and he imposed a severe fine of £10, or in default two months' imprisonment, pointing out that Miss Billington could easily get the fine, and that if she went to prison it would be of her own accord. The other cases were adjourned. At the sentence a cry went up from the women, but Miss Billington refused to let the fine be paid, and has gone to Hollo way Gaol. Not only from her followers, but from thousands who sympathise with the woman's cause will the cry go up "Shameful !" Questions are to be asked in Parliament about the matter.

— Four oid horse tramway cars, fitted with cots for patients Buffering from infectious diseases, ravo been placed in a field adjoining Pilton Hospital, near Leith. ■ — Minster-on-Sea, Isle of Sheppey, is fo have the distinction of possessing thelongest pier in England. It will be 7000 ft in length.